Fluid actuated liner hanger apparatus



Jan. 4, 1966 HQH. FISHER, JR

FLUID ACTUATED LINER HANGER APPARATUS Filed April 29, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. JET/FAME 1 791452, J22.

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Jan. 4, 1966 H. H. FISHER, JR 3, FLUID ACTUATED LINER HANGER APPARATUS Filed April 29, 1 963 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

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United States Patent ()i The present invention relates to subsurface well bore apparatus, and more particularly to apparatus for hanging liners, and the like, from the lower portion of well casing disposed in well bores.

An object of the invention is to provide liner hanging apparatus adapted to be incorporated in a casing string to be disposed in a well bore, the liner being lowered in the casing string on a running-in string to its desired location in the well bore, in which hanging of the liner is accomplished without the necessity for moving the running-in string after the setting location has been reached. Another object of the invention is to provide liner hanging apparatus adapted to be incorporated in a casing string to be disposed in a well bore, the liner being lowered in the casing string on a running-in string to its desired location in the well bore, the liner hanging apparatus being actuated by fluid pressure to support the liner upon its reaching its setting location. -In a more limited sense, the liner hanger apparatus is actuated by fluid or hydraulic pressure pumped down the annulus between the running-in and casing strings.

This invention possesses many other advantages, and has other objects which may be made more clearly apparent from a consideration of a form in which it may be embodied. This form is shown in the drawings accompanying and forming part of the present specification.

It will now be described in detail, for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention; but it is to be understood that such detailed description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, since the scope of the invention is be t defined by the appended claims.

Referring to the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a longitudinal section through a well casing embodying a liner hanger apparatus, with its parts in their initial position prior to running of theliner in the casing;

FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1 with the liner run in the well casing and prior toits being anchored therein;

place, being firmly held in position by a surrounding body of cement (not shown), or the like.

The lower portion of the casing contains a. liner hanger apparatus B,formed within and constituting part of a casing collar or tubular body member ltl that connects upper and lower casing sections ll, 12 in spaced relation. A liner C (FIG. 2) is lowered down through the casing string on a suitable running-in string D, such as i a string of tubing, extending to the top of the well bore, the upper portion 13. of the liner being adapted to be disposed within the collar and to be set therewithin. More specifically, the liner can be anchored in the well casing, or suspended therefrom. A seal is also provided between the liner C and easing A,'or the liner can be both anchored in the well casing, or suspended therefrom. A

3,227,217 Patented Jan. 4, 1966 seal is also provided between the liner C and casing A, or the liner can be both anchored and packed-oft with respect to the well casing.

The tubular body 10 of the liner hanger apparatus is constituted as a composite structure, including a lower tubular member 14 having a lower threaded pin portion 15 threadedly secured to the casing section 12 therebelow. The upper portion of the tubular member 14 is a threaded box 16 threaded onto the exterior of an upper tubular body section 17 that has a threaded box portion 18 to receive a depending threaded pin 19 on the upper section of casing 11, the casing string extending to the top of the well bore. An elongate annular recess or groove 20 is formed within the lower tubular member 14 betweenits lower shoulder 21 and the lower end 22 of the upper section 17. Contained within this annular groove or recess 20 are the parts for anchoring the liner in the well casing and for effecting a seal between them. Initial internal diameters of all of the parts within this recess, with the exception of a fluid actuated packing member 23, are no less than the nominal inside diameter of the casing string sections both above and below the tubular body structure 10. The tubular body structure itself has a minimum inside diameter that is no less than the inside diameter of the casing sections 11, 12.

The packing structure 24 includes a pliant, elastic packing sleeve 25, of rubber or rubber-like material, the exterior of which engages the inner wall 26 of the tubular member 14. The lower end of this packing sleeve is tapered and engages a companion tapered surface 27 on the upper split ring 28 of a packing extrusion preventing device 29. The upper split ring is adapted to contract and bears against a lower split extrusion preventing ring 30 having a tapered surface 31 engaging a companion tapered surface 32 of the tubular member shoulder 21. The two rings 28, 30 are interconnected for joint expansion and contraction by virtue of a circular rib 33 on the upper ring being received within a companion circular groove 34 on the lower ring. The splits of the extrusion preventing rings 28, 30 are out of phase with one another, so that there is no longitudinal passage through both of the rings. The inner surfaces 35 of the rings are cylindrical and initially do not project within the well casing A beyond its nominal inside diameter.

The upper portion of the packing element 25 also has an upper inner tapered surface 36 engaging a companion tapered surface 37 on the lower ring 38 of an upper extrusion preventing device 39a, that bears against an upper extrusion preventing ring 3% These rings are the same as the lower set of rings 28, 30, having splits that are out of phase with one another, which, for example, may be 180 degrees, and being connected together for joint contraction by a circular rib 40 on one of the rings being received within a companion circular groove 41 in the other ring. The outer surface 42 of the upper ring 39 is inclined in an upward and inward direction, engaging a companion tapered surface 43 at the lower end or corner of an expander 44 slidably mounted in the tubular member 14 and along its inner wall 26.

The upper inner portion 45 of the expander is tapered in an upward and outward direction, engaging a companion tapered surface 46 on a split slip or anchoring sleeve 47 which may be formed in one piece, or in segments, the split 48 of the sleeve being suflicient to permit its substantial contraction. As shown, the slip sleeve 47 has inner teeth 49 facing in an upward direction, and is also provided with circumferentially spaced weakening grooves 50 therein which facilitate contraction of the slip sleeve when the latter is moved downwardly along the tapered expander 44, and which also provides weakened sections 51 at which the sleeve may break into'segments (if it is not previously segmented), to enable the slip segments to move inwardly and their teeth 49 into gripping engagement with a portion of the liner 13, as explained hereinbclow. An annular setting member or ring 52 is disposed in the upper portion of the recess 26, being slidable along the inner wall 26 of the tubular member 14. This setting ring 52 is split and has external peripheral ratchet teeth 53 facing in an upward direction, which are adapted to engage downwardly facing ratchet teeth 54 formed in the inner Wall of the tubular member, to permit downward movement of the setting ring 52 along the tubular member 14, but precluding its upward movement therealong.

Disposed upon the upper end of the setting ring 52 is a fluid actuated setting device in the form of a packing, such as the packing cup 23, the lower end of which is suitably secured to a thimble 55 resting upon the upper end of the setting ring 52. This packing cup 23 initially projects inwardly of the passage through the casing string and has an inner tapered surface 56 inclined in an upward and outward direction to facilitate guiding of the liner C into and through the packing member. The unrestrained internal diameter of the packing cup 23 is less than the external diameter of the liner member or body 13 against which it is adapted to seal.

The liner C is adapted to be lowered down through the casing A on the tubular running-in string D extending to the top of the well bore. The lower end of this tubing string is threadedly connected to the upper body section 57 of a running-in and releasing tool E, this upper body section being threaded to a lower section 58 which carries a suitable seal ring 59 adapted to seal within the liner hanging collar or body 13 that constitutes the upper end of a liner string C depending therefrom. The lower pin end 60 of the liner body is thrcadedly connected to a collar 61, which, in turn, is threadedly attached to a liner section 62 therebelow, such liner section, in turn, being suitably connected, in a known manner, to other liner sections (not shown) therebelow that constitute the desired length of liner to be hung from the casing.

The running-in tool E is threadedly connected to the upper end of the liner body 13 by a nut 63 bearing against a body section shoulder 64, the nut being threadedly connected to the upper threaded box 65 of the liner body. This threaded connection is preferably left hand so that rotation of the tubing string D and running-in tool E to the right effects unscrewing of the nut 63 from the threaded box 65. The rotary motion is transmitted from the running-in tool body 57 to the nut through a key 66 secured to the nut and slidable in a body keyway or groove 67, which permits the nut to feed upwardly along the running-in tool body 57 and out of the threaded liner hanging body box 65.

The liner hanging body 13 is of a length greater than the tubular member recess and has an outside diameter that is at least slightly greater than the unrestrained diameter of the packing cup 23. The periphery 68 of the liner hanging body is cylindrical, so as to be engaged by the packing cup 23, slip sleeve 47, packing element 25, and the extrusion preventing rings 28, and 38, 39.

The casing string A is run in the well bore with the liner hanger apparatus B incorporated therein, as disclosed in FIG. 1, in which the slip sleeve 47 is in its laterally outermost position, the packing element 25 and upper and lower sets of extrusion preventing rings also being disposed in their outermost positions. The setting ring 52 is located at the upper portion of the ratchet teeth 54 in the tubular member 14. Suitable devices, such as drilling bits (not shown), and the like, can be lowered and elevated within the casing string for the purpose of drilling the hole below the casing, the liner hanger apparatus B being in non-interfering relation with such other equipment that might be operated therewithin. When it is desired to run the liner C in the casing, it is made up of a suitable length, with its upper portion constituted by the liner hanging body 13. This body is releasably and threadedly secured to the running-in string D by the coupling nut 63, the running-in tool E being secured to the tubing string D and the liner C lowered thereby in the well casing until the liner hanging body 13 is disposed within the liner hanger apparatus B, such as disclosed in FIG. 2. If desired, fluid can be pumped down through the tubing string D and through the liner C to condition the well bore, and, if desired, to cement or otherwise perform an operation in the well bore in connection with the liner. During the downward pumping of fluid through the tubing string, the fluid in advance thereof can move down around the lower portion of the liner and upwardly around the liner and between the liner C and easing A, into the annular space between the liner hanging body 13 and the packing 25, the fluid deflecting the packing cup 23 outwardly for continued upward movement through the tubing-casing annulus S1 thereabove to the top of the well bore.

When the liner C is to be anchored in packed-off condition with respect to the casing A, fluid under pressure is pumped from the top of the well bore into the annulus 31 between the tubular running-in string D and the casing string A. This fluid under pressure engages the packing cup 23 and flexes it inwardly into firm sealing engagement with the periphery 68 of the liner hanging body 13. Very little fluid can leak past the exterior of the packing cup, allowing a suflicient pressure differential to be built up above the packing cup to shift the packing cup 23 downwardly, the downward force being transmitted to the setting ring 52, which moves downwardly. As the annular setting member 52 moves downwardly, it shifts the slip sleeve 47 and expander 44 downwardly to shorten the packing structure 24, as well as its rubber or rubberlike packing sleeve 25, contracting the packing sleeve and shifting it inwardly into sealing engagement with the periphery 68 of the liner hanging body. Following such sealing engagement against the periphery of the body, the packing cup 23 and setting ring 52 continues to move downwardly along the liner hanging collar or body 13 and along the external tubular member 14 to shift the slip sleeve 47 downwardly along the expander 44 and urge it inwardly to embed its teeth 49 into the surface or periphery 68 of the liner hanging body 13. The continued application of the fluid pressure to the packng cup 23 at a proper value will shift the expander 44 downwardly along the wall 26 of the tubular member 14 to a further extent, further shortening the packing sleeve 25 and compressing it between the inner wall 26 of the tubular member and the periphery 63 of the liner hanging body, the tapered surfaces 36, 43, 32 on the packing element and expander, and on the packing element and tubular member 14 contracting the upper and lower extrusion preventing rings 38, 39 and 23, 30 inwardly toward the liner hanging body 13. If the force imposed on the packmg cup 23 is suflicient, the extrusion preventing rings are shifted inwardly into snug engagement with the periphery 6S of the liner hanging body, the rings then bridging the annular spaces between the expander 44 and liner hanging body 13, and between the lower portion 21 of the tubular member and the liner hanging body 13, to prevent extrusion or squeezing of the rubber or rubberlike material 25 beyond the extrusion preventing rings and into such annular spaces.

During the time that the setting ring 52 is moving downwardly along the tubular body and efl'ecting setting of the slips 47 and packing structure 24 against the exterior 68 of the liner hanging collar or body 13, the setting ring 52, being split, can ratchet downwardly along the teeth 54 of the ratchet member. Its return or upward movement, however, is prevented by the engagement of its external teeth 53 with the internal teeth on the tubular member, thereby insuring that the liner hanging collar or body 13 and the liner sections therebelow are anchored in packed-off condition within the well casing. The parts that have been shifted into firm engagement with the tubular hanging collar cannot return to their initial position because of the one-way action of the ratchet device 52-54.

During its inward movement, the slip sleeve 47 may break into segments at its weakened sections 51,,the teeth 49 digging into the periphery 68 of the liner hanging body. The weight of the liner C tends to shift the slip sleeve structure 47 downwardly of the expander 44 and .urges the teeth 49 to a still greater extent into the liner hanging body. The weight of the suspended liner continues to act through the slip 47 and expander 44 on the packing structure 24. to insure the retention of the packing element 25 in sealed engagement against the periphery 68 of the liner hanging body and also against the tubular member 14 of the casing A. Such weight may also insure the full bridging action of the extrusion preventing rings at the upper and lower ends of the packing, by holding them in snug engagement with the periphery of the liner hanging body. j

Release of the tubing string D and running-in tool E can be effected by rotating the tubing string, the rotary mo- .tion. being transmitted through the running-in tool body r57 and key 66 to the coupling nut 63, the latter being unthreaded from the box portion 65 of the liner hanging body 13 while its key 66 slides upwardly in the keyway or groove 67 of the running-in tool body. After complete unthreading of the coupling nut from the liner hang ng body, the tubing string D and runningin, tool E can be i elevated in the well casing A and removed completely therefrom, leaving the liner C suspended or anchored in packed-off condition in the wellcasing.

With the liner hanging apparatus disclosed, liners With larger effective internal diameters can be run-in and hung in the casing, as well as being packed-cit therewithin.

The liner hanging collar or body 13 can, if desired, be made of an extended length (much longer than the length illustrated in the drawings) so that there is a certain degree of flexibility in the location of the liner in the casing string. So long as an appropriate length of the liner hanging body 13 is disposed within the packing cup 23 and the packing element 25, the necessary anchoring and sealing of the liner hanging body 13 with respect to the casing string A can be effected. Once the location of I the liner hanger B has been reached,it is unnecessary to move the running-in string D and the liner C itself in effecting setting of the hanger B against the liner hanging body 13. It is only necessary to apply fluid pressure to 6 laterally movable anchoring means in said tubular member; and fluid actuated means movable longitudinally along said liner hanging member and tubular member for shifting said anchoring means inwardly into anchoring engagement with said liner hanging member.

3. In combination: a casing string disposed in and extending to the upper portion of a well bore, said casing string including a tubular member in its lower portion; a liner including a liner hanging member; means for lowering said liner within said casing string to positionsaid liner hanging member within said tubular member; packing means in said tubular member; and fluid actuated means movable longitudinally along said liner hanging member and tubular member for shifting said packing means into sealing engagement with said liner hanging member.

4. In combination: a casing string disposed in and extending to the upper portion of a well bore, said casing string including a tubular member in its lower portion; a liner including a liner hanging member; means for lowering said liner within said casing string to position .said liner hanging member within said tubular member; laterallymovable means in and carried by said tubular member adapted to be shifted inwardly into engagement with said liner hanging member; means engageable with said laterally movable means and including a setting member slidable downwardly along said tubular member to shift said laterally movable means inwardly into engagement: with said liner hanging member; and a fluid actu- 30 downwardly along said liner hanging member and tubular ated means engaging said setting member and movable member for moving said setting member downwardly along said tubular member.

5. In apparatus for hanging a liner from a casing string disposed in a Well bore: a tubular member adapted to be disposed in the well bore to constitute part of the casing string; laterally movable gripping means in said tubular member; a liner hanging member adapted to be lowered on a running-in string in the casing string to a position Within said tubular member and gripping means;

member for moving said setting member downwardly along said tubular member.

6. In apparatus for hanging a liner from a casing string disposed in a well bore: a tubular member adapted to be disposed in the well bor-e to constitute part of the casing string; packing means in said tubular member; laterally string including a tubular member in its lower portion;

a liner including a liner hanging member; means for lowering said liner within said casing string to position said liner hanging member within said tubular member; laterally movable means in and carried bysaid tubular member adapted to be shifted inwardly into engagement with said liner hanging member; and fluid actuated means movable longitudinally along said liner hanging member and tubular member for shifting said laterally movable means inwardly into engagement with said liner hanging member.

2. In combination: a casing string disposed in and extending to the upper portion of a well bore, said casing string including a tubular member in its lower portion; a liner including a liner hanging member; means for lowering said liner within said casing string to position said liner hanging member within said tubular member;

movable gripping means in said tubular member; a liner hanging member adapted to be lowered in the casing string to a position Within said tubular member, packing means and gripping means; means engageable with said packing means and including a setting member slidable downwardly along said tubular member to shift said packing means inwardly into sealing engagement with said liner hanging member; and a packing device on said setting member sealingly engaging said liner hanging member and shiftable downwardly therealong in response to the pressure of the fluid in the casing string externally of the liner hanging member for .moving said setting member downwardly along said tubular member.

7. In combination: a casing string disposed in and extending to the upper portion of a well bore, said casing string including a tubular member in its lower portion; a liner including a liner hanging member; means for lowering said liner within said casing string to position said liner hanging member within said tubular member; packing means in said tubular member; laterally movable anchoring means in said tubular member; means for shifting said packing means and anchoring means inwardly into engagement with said liner hanging member, including a setting member slidable downwardly along said tubular member; and fluid actuated means engaging said setting member and movable downwardly along said liner hanging member and tubular member for moving said setting member downwardly along said tubular member.

8. In apparatus for hanging a liner from a casing string disposed in a well bore: a tubular member adapted to be disposed in the well bore to constitute part of the casing string; slip means in said tubular member; an expander in said tubular member engaging said slip means; packing means in said tubular member engaging said expander; a liner hanging member adapted to be lowered in the casing string to a position within said slip means, expander and packing means; and fluid actuated means movable downwardly along said liner hanging member and tubular member for moving said slip means downwardly of said expander and said expander downwardly against said packing means to shift said slip means and packing means inwardly against said liner hanging member.

9. In combination: a casing string disposed in and extending to the upper portion of a well bore, said casing string including a tubular member in its lower portion; a liner including a liner hanging member; means for lowering said liner within said casing string to position said liner hanging member within said tubular member; laterally movable means in and carried by said tubular member adapted to be shifted inwardly into engagement with said liner hanging member; and fluid actuated means responsive to the pressure of the fluid in the casing string externally of said liner hanging member for shifting said laterally movable means inwardly into engagement with said liner hanging member.

10. In apparatus for hanging a liner from a casing string disposed in a well bore: a tubular member adapted to be disposed in the well bore to constitute part of the casing string; a liner hanging member adapted to be lowered on a running-in string in the casing string to a position within said tubular member; laterally movable means in and carried by said tubular member adapted to be shifted inwardly into engagement with said liner hanging member; and fluid actuated means responsive to the pressure of the fluid in the annulus between the running-in string and easing string for shifting said laterally movable means inwardly into engagement with said liner hanging member.

11'. In apparatus for hanging a liner from a casing string disposed in a well bore: a tubular member adapted to be disposed in the well bore to constitute part of the casing string; a liner hanging member adapted to be lowered in the casing string to a position within said tubular member; laterally movable means in and carried by said tubular member adapted to be shifted inwardly into engagement with said liner hanging member; means engageable with said laterally movable means and including a setting member slidable downwardly along said tubular member to shift said laterally movable means inwardly into engagement with said liner hanging member; and a packing device on said setting member sealingly engaging said liner hanging member and shiftable downwardly therealong in response to the pressure of the fluid in the casing string externally of the liner hanging member to move said setting member downwardly along said tubular member.

12. In apparatus for hanging a liner from a casing string disposed in a well bore: a tubular member adapted to be disposed in the well bore to constitute part of the casing string; a liner hanging member adapted to be lowered in the casing string to a position within said tubular member; laterally movable means in and carried by said tubular member adapted to be shifted inwardly into engagement with said liner hanging member; means engageable with said laterally movable means and including a setting member slidable downwardly along said tubular member to shift said laterally movable means inwardly into engagement with said liner hanging member; a packing device on said setting member sealingly engaging said liner hanging member and shiftable downwardly therealong in response to the pressure of the fluid in the casing string externally of the liner hanging member to move said setting member downwardly along said tubular member; and coengaging means on said setting member and tubular member for preventing upward movement of said setting member along said tubular member.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,593,725 4/1952 Brown 16614 2,672,199 3/1954 McKenna 166-121 3,090,640 5/1963 Otteman et al 285- CHARLES E. OCONNELL, Primary Examiner.

BENJAMIN HERSH, Examiner. 

1. IN COMBINATION: A CASING STRING DISPOSED IN AND EXTENDING TO THE UPPER PORTION OF A WELL BORE, SAID CASING STRING INCLUDING A TUBULAR MEMBER IN ITS LOWER PORTION; A LINER INCLUDING A LINER HANGING MEMBER; MEANS FOR LOWERING SAID LINER WITHIN SAID CASING STRING TO POSITION SAID LINER HANGING MEMBER WITHIN SAID TUBULAR MEMBER; LATERALLY MOVABLE MEANS IN AND CARRIED BY SAID TUBULAR MEMBER ADAPTED TO BE SHIFTED INWARDLY INTO ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID LINER HANGING MEMBER; AND FLUID ACTUATED MEANS MOVABLE LONGITUDINALLY ALONG SAID LINER HANGING MEMBER AND TUBULAR MEMBER FOR SHIFTING SAID LATERALLY MOVABLE MEANS INWARDLY INTO ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID LINER HANGING MEMBER. 